61 pages 2 hours read

James Welch

Fools Crow

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1986

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Chapters 13-15

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 13 Summary

After the war party, Three Bears resolves to rename White Man’s Dog “Fools Crow,” “after hearing how he had tricked Bull Shield into thinking he was dead and then risen up to kill the Crow chief” (153). The day after the naming ceremony, Fools Crow wakes up full of regret for drinking too much “white man’s water” the night before and boasting to Yellow Kidney about killing Bull Shield “in the same manner that Fast Horse had boasted to the Crows the night Yellow Kidney was captured and mutilated” (154). He feels as if he does not truly deserve his new name as he did not really trick Bull Shield but rather “the Crow had fooled himself into thinking White Man’s Dog was dead” (155).

While lying in his lodge, Fools Crow sees “a column of Napikwans” in their blue uniforms “loping toward the camp” (155). Among them is the scout, Joe Kipp, who asks for Three Bears, Rides-at-the-door, and Boss Ribs. When Red Paint is surprised to hear Kipp speaking the Pikuni language, Fools Crow explains that the scout is the son of a white trader and a woman who was from the “Dirt Lodge people” (156).

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By James Welch